Millennium
Growth Era

2000

As the world stepped into a new digital millennium, our firm too entered a defining chapter.

A fresh generation of partners joined the helm, bringing with them renewed energy and perspectives, and a deep commitment to steering the Firm into its next chapter.

This era unfolded against the backdrop of Malaysia’s Vision 2020, a time when the nation was reimagining its economic identity and expanding its global footprint. And inspired by the nation’s own forward stride, the Firm rose steadily, evolving in step with the country it proudly serves.

25th Anniversary Dinner

Gan Kok Ling, Partner

Defining Transactions

“The Tanjung Bin project finance was one of my earliest and most challenging transactions. It was urgent, complex. We were dealing with project finance documents for a power plant.

That experience stayed with me. After that, we went on to handle several other project finance deals.

Another early highlight was the STAR and PUTRA LRT privatisation. It was one of the largest government deals at the time, involving multiple ministries, particularly the Ministry of Finance of Malaysia, and numerous stakeholders. Being part of that team was something I was truly fortunate to experience.”

What It Takes

“Time management is critical, as is meeting client expectations. You need strong technical skills, but just as importantly, you must take ownership and responsibility for your matters.

We work as a team, so communication and collaboration are essential. And above all, resilience matters.”

30th Anniversary Dinner

2004 Kuching Trip

2008 Deeparaya

Sukuk and Islamic Finance

During these years, we deepened our expertise in Sukuk and Islamic finance at a time when Malaysia was emerging as a global leader in this space.

The Firm not only strengthened its technical capabilities but also helped pioneer groundbreaking transactions, many of them complex, many of them unprecedented, and many honoured with industry awards.

These achievements were more than milestones; they were symbols of the Firm’s growing confidence, competence, and commitment to excellence. These include:

The first synthetic securitisation in Malaysia, advising Aseambankers Malaysia Berhad and Citibank Berhad on the issuance of RM150 million Credit Linked Notes by Cagamas SME Berhad.
The securitisation of Menara Telekom and other Telekom-owned buildings, and the corresponding issuance of RM1 billion Islamic Asset-Backed Sukuk Ijarah for Citibank Berhad.
The issuance of RM385 million in asset-backed securities for Commerce International Merchant Bankers Berhad.

With the rapid growth of Islamic finance, the Firm advised a consortium of banks on the RM6 billion project financing for SKS-Tanjung Bin’s combined-cycle power plant, implementing a RM5.6 billion Islamic medium-term note programme that, for the first time in Malaysian capital markets, employed the Islamic principle of Istisna.

The Firm also acted as Malaysian counsel to JP Morgan and Salomon Smith Barney on the Government of Malaysia’s USD1 billion Yankee bonds issuance in 2001.

Initial Public Offerings

The Firm acted as Malaysian legal counsel to the underwriters in the Initial Public Offerings of several prominent companies:

Maxis Berhad
PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad
Felda Global Ventures Holdings Berhad
Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad
JCY International Berhad

In 2010, Deepak Sadasivan assumed leadership of the Firm and led its continued growth and expansion until 2023.

2010

Deepak Sadasivan, Partner

Clients at the Heart of Our Learning

“One of the most fundamental reasons for any success we may have achieved in practice is undoubtedly client relationships. It’s the clients who themselves are at the cutting edge of their game, and who bring us challenging and complex transactions, that enable us to learn and grow. In this regard, we’ve been lucky to have had very good clients over the lifetime of the Firm, many of whom have become friends. Our most challenging interlocutors, but also our most vocal supporters. By expecting only the best from us over the years, they have made us better and better, and for that we’re truly grateful.”

Hunger and Commitment: Two Acts of Practice

“Practice is a hungry gourmand. Always wanting more, but only of the best and finest. If you commit yourself to feeding this creature, you must be prepared to often go hungry yourself. What it takes from you it will not put back. But, paradoxically, the more you give, the more you will have. The more you give, the faster, deeper, smarter and better you become, until at last you become a moveable feast, of which all may partake, but none can exhaust.”